New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-01-05
Queer Ammunition.
rom the Omaha Herald.

Gone Of my adventures, eh?" began
the book agent, as the others settled
into their seats more comfortably
"Well, about eight years ago | car
ried pack of novelties, such as you
frequently see exhibited on the street
corners and presided over by a sun
burned Italian. With another man
and q young fellow of eighteen trav-
eled through Kansas to the Colorado
line, selling and trading our wares to
the Indians for anything marketable
in the cities. About the time OF our
| arrival in the western part of
Kansas the memorable Indian out.
break was terrorizing the country.
From the south and west came re-
| ports Of the terrible outrages perpe-
trated by the Indians and greasers.
Houses were burned, the inmates were
killed Instantly or tortured to death
and all the cattle were driven off and
scattered. Youmay be sure Ifelt con-
siderablesolicitude concerning the safe
| ty OF my little party, and took extra
precautions to find secluded spots
when camping. Of course, under the
| conditions, / deemed it advisable to
get out Of the neighborhood imnledi-
ately. To do SO we found it necessa-
ry to pass through the country most
likely to be invested by struggling
bands of Indians. Despite the risks we
determined to make the attempt.
After q long, hard days tramp we en-
camped for the night in one of those
small canons so prevalent in western
Kansas. It was an excellent place, too
Our backs were effectually protected by
a natural cave in the side of the bank,
the entrance to which was
concealed by brush and tall grass.
Sam, the boy of the party, was an
unusually bright young fellow and
very familiar with the tactics of Indian
warfare. just beforelying down no.
ticed him untying a good-sized bun
BILE OF sticks resembling short broom
handles. He placed them in easy
reach and tumbled down to sleep. I
had also noticed him fumbling around
the bushes a short time before but
didn' t pay much attention to his &C
tions. The other fellow and myself
concluded not to set a guard, as we
were in such all excellent place. I
don't know how long we had slept
when we were awakened by Sam shak-
ing us slightly and whispering:
/ BE quick now, the Indians are
4 getting ready to slip in on u.s.
"By this time we were both wide
awake and ready with our rifles.
] n'Listen, whispered Sam; hear the
dirty scamps slipping up. Put down
the rifles. pve got something better.
He handed us each four OF the
4 sticks mentioned. remarking:
" Them's roman candles. I've got
| a pile OF whoppers along, and ! think
we can scare these scamps clean out
o. their hides.
i 81 caught the idea in a moment and
strained my ears to listen for further
demonstrations from the attacking
i party. We could hear them creeping
here and there through the bushes,
scarcely making q noise, but easily
| distinguished IN the silence OF the
night;
| in each hand and I'll light them.
"Suitipg the action to the word, he
/ contrived to light them in rnpid sue
cession. Then we turned them into
4 the bushes, and. heavens, what sight
/ was revealed as the candles flashed.
About fifty vlllaino us-l king savages
4 and greasersweresto oping and creepine
| along toward us. At the frs bash
i they stopped as if spell bound. We
q turned them 50 the green and white
balls would strike them in their faces
4 The candles were tremendous affairs,
and eight or ten Of them popping away
| apparently independent of human aid
q was enough to terrorize any one. Our
assallants wavered q moment, then
and with terrible yell, bounded
away toward high ground rs il the
4 devil himself was in pursuit. VIZ
could hear them scramble up the hill
!. side, mount their horses and galloI
3 away. Sam. afterward explained thai
]. he had bro ought the candles along as 8
1 side speculation. and he also explain
9 ed that he had arranged system o
q strings among the bushes 80 that nc
one could approach very close with
out meeting the obstruction ani
alarming him. Is is needless TO stat,
, that we reached safe ground ii du,
time. without fur her molestation -